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Senate adopts compromise formula for Olympic revenue distribution after debate
Summary
Senate amends and approves Senate Bill 67 to divide Olympic-related municipal revenue 50% by population and 50% by point-of-sale/time-of-incorporation; senators debated fairness for cities and counties and concerns about venue maintenance funding.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on Feb. 14 amended and passed Senate Bill 67, a measure setting a formula for distributing a portion of Olympic-related municipal revenues among cities and counties.
Sponsor Sen. Wadhams presented amendment No. 6 to allocate distribution 50% on population and 50% on point-of-sale or length of incorporation, describing it as a compromise between competing city and county interests. “What this does is implement a formula that allows for 50% to be based on population and the other 50% to be allocated based on point of sale based on how long the city has been incorporated,” he said.
Sen. Stevenson argued for distribution based on current municipal service provision and the people who pay the taxes, saying a historical timeline could create a windfall to entities that no longer serve most residents. “It should be distributed based on the people where they exist today, and whoever is providing those municipal services should be the ones to get the flow back of that money,” Stevenson said.
County representatives and senators raised concerns about maintenance obligations for Olympic venues that were originally funded by county general funds; supporters of the compromise said the amendment balanced the needs of cities that paid the tax and counties that provided and must maintain venues.
Sen. Gladwell noted administrative facts in Weber County where small newly incorporated cities contract with the county for services and the county retains venue responsibility. Several senators described the amendment as a practical compromise that addresses fairness and prevents windfalls created by late incorporations.
Outcome and next steps
The amendment was adopted on the floor. Senate Bill 67 then passed the Senate with a recorded vote of 25–1 and will be referred to the House for further action. Senators noted the bill would still undergo House consideration and possible further public hearings.
Context
Senators during debate referenced a statewide pool of roughly $5.96 billion discussed during floor remarks (with state and local shares), though proponents noted the portion addressed by this bill was a smaller subset earmarked for municipal distribution and subject to state-share deductions.
